Carol Ruth Downum 80 of Belton Texas died June 14 2009 in Temple Texas. A Private family graveside service will be held with nephew Gerry Cates of Albany officiating under the direction of North's Funeral Home. Ms. Downum will lie in state at North's Funeral Home 242 Orange St. until Thursday evening. She was born in Ft. Worth on August 11 1928 to Rev. Lloyd Thomas and Ruth Coleman Grantham. She lived most of her childhood in Mississippi eventually moving to Abilene to attend Hardin-Simmons University. She married Joseph Perry Hale Jr. of Hermleigh TX in 1949 and together they raised five wonderful children. In 1977 she married James Woodrow Downum of Amarillo. They were married until his death in 1997. In July 1999 she moved to Belton Texas to live closer to her daughter. Survivors include her two sons Michael Hale of Roanoke VA Mark Hale of Lubbock; three daughters Sandra Sanders of Belton Lisa Bateman of Abilene and Belinda Birnbaum of Tulsa OK; ten grandchildren five great-grandchildren; a sister Jeanette Cates of Abilene and numerous nieces and nephews. Online condolences may be sent to www.northsfuneralhome.com